Reviews

Last month we held a competition to write a review of your favourite Alice-Miranda or Clementine Rose book. We have been inundated with entries and I have decided to publish the winners below. I’ve also included the latest review of Alice-Miranda in China from Reading Time. Reviews can be quite nerve racking as you never know what people are going to think but this one made me smile – a lot!

Alice–Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones heads to China in the latest book by multi-award-winning author Jacqueline Harvey. Alice–Miranda in China, the fourteenth book in the series, follows Alice–Miranda and her schoolmates on a whirlwind school trip to Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing. With a mix of sightseeing, acrobatics, hilarious parenting mishaps and mystery, the students of Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies, together with a few friends from Fayle School for Boys, experience the wonders of China while uncovering an evil plan to steal priceless artifacts. Alice–Mirandainadvertently becomes part of the heist, but helps bring the perpetrators to justice, and makes a lasting impression on all those she meets.

With a cultural exchange between students at the heart of this story, young readers will see more than just the sites in Alice–Miranda in China. Most intriguing, perhaps, is the talented Wong family of acrobats with young Sunny as the star of the show. Contrasting with the uber wealthy Fang family, the Wongs live a modest life in the hutongs,where Alice-Miranda experiences life without indoor plumbing, and the fun of riding through narrow alleyways on trishaws. The Bright Star Academy in Beijing is also a surprise with its modern equipment and futuristic facilities that even entrance the visiting staff members. Plus, the mouthwatering food described throughout evokes a real sense of place, and immerses readers in Chinese culture.

From hilarious antics, like smuggling goldfish through airport security, to odd adult behaviour (losing a metallic platform trainer in the loo, anyone?), Alice-Miranda in China is highly entertaining and hard to put down. And the fantastic names throughout the story — Ambrosia Headlington Bear, Professor Winterbottom, Ophelia Grimm, etc. — are sure to bring a smile to readers.

I certainly recommend Alice-Miranda in China for primary schoolers, especially those studying or traveling to China. Additionally, there is a wealth of information and activities to supplement readings on the author’s entertaining website.

Reviewed by Stephanie Ward

Congratulations to everyone who entered the competition – it was so hard to choose as there were so many fabulous entries. Huge congratulations to the winners below – I will be in touch very soon to organise your prizes.

Alice-Miranda at Camp

Alice-Miranda and her friends from Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale and Fayle are utterly over the moon when Miss Grimm announces the camp that Queen Georgina has organised for the children to attend. While they are there the children are participating in a new program that the Queen herself wants to test out called the Queens Colours. However with competitive new girl Caprice thrown into the mix the competition fizzes from fun to over the top quick smart. This novel is a choppy sea of ups and downs the whole way through. Strong friendships like Alice-Miranda and Millie’s are tested to the maximum and the characters recognise where their trust really lies. This book kept me in total anticipation while reading it. At times I felt frustrated with Caprice and I felt real empathy for the victims that she manipulated as no one likes a bully. I loved the way that Jacqueline included so many themes in the book, family, friendship, teamwork and of course mystery! This book has something for everyone, however the star of the book is of course Alice-Miranda. She demonstrates so much positive energy throughout the whole book and is the main reason why I love it so much!

Rosie

Alice-Miranda at School

Alice-Miranda at school is a wonderful book full of mystery. She is brave loveable, trustworthy, smart and has a great sense of humour. Alice-Miranda sets off to boarding school. She is very suspicious and thinks something is wrong at Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale Academy for Proper Young Ladies. The headmistress hasn’t been seen for 10 years! She makes lots of friends like Millie and Jacinta. She makes an enemy called Alethea Goldsworthy. She loves the horse stables and usually ride them. Miss Grimm the headmistress doesn’t like her so she sets her 3 impossible challenges like a test, camping and lots more will our hero save the day well she is Alice Miranda of course. When you read this book you won’t be able to put it down. Alice- Miranda will become your hero.

Jade

Alice-Miranda Shines Bright

Please don’t tell me you haven’t read this book, Alice-Miranda Shines Bright! It is the most intriguing book out of the WHOLE series! There are so many mysteries that Alice-Miranda solves and each little mystery comes together into one big mystery! I absolutely love this book because each time you turn a page, you get this warm, exciting feeling going down your spine. It is awesome how the story gives you clues about the mystery Alice-Miranda is going to solve, to help you understand the story better. I love how Jacinta is grumpy and Alice-Miranda helps to solve her worries and how Mr Parker disappears after he wakes up from his coma and Alice-Miranda helps to find him. I recommend everyone to read this book. If you haven’t read this, you have to read it now! Trust me, you won’t regret it once you have read it.

Melissa

Alice-Miranda at the Palace

Alice Miranda and her friends are invited to Evesbury palace for Aunty Gee’s silver jubilee. Evesbury palace is magnificent and fun to explore, but why are some of the staff behaving strangely? Edgar and Louis, the two mischief making twins are also playing tricks on annoyed visitors, then teaming up with an unexpected visitor. Meanwhile, why does Aunty Gee want to keep Alice Miranda at the palace for longer? And who is her mysterious milliner? With her friends and the trusty butler can Alice Miranda uncover what threatens to bring the royal family down? Read Alice Miranda at the palace to find out!

Alice Miranda at the Palace is my favourite book because:

It’s very exciting and you can never get enough of it

I’ve always wanted to see what it is like, in Buckingham palace, and it’s great to read about Alice Miranda at the Palace

Hello Jacqueline,
I’m Stella and I’m now 11 and I have been reading your fabulous books since they came out!! I have just finished Alice-Miranda Holds The Key and I’ve enjoyed it thoroughly!! Is Miss Grimm pregnant? I wonder what the child will be called!! I’m so happy for Chessie. I’m so excited for the next book!! You are so talented. Thankyou Jacqueline!!
From Stella
Ps
Rodney is adorable!!

Yes, Miss Grimm is having a baby! I can’t wait to write that story. Rodney is adorable for sure and Chessie is a sweetie. I’m just today and tomorrow reading the page proofs for Alice-Miranda in Hollywood so not long to wait now. It will be out in September.

Wow!!!! These book reviews are so detailed and in depth! Even though I have read all the books that they reviewed, it makes me want to read it again! Pity I didn’t do a review myself
🙁
Good job to the book reviewers, you are amazing writers!!!

also i love love the whole series and just finished Alice-Miranda in China it was AMAZING!!! I definitely recommend it!! and i would like to say thanks Jacqueline Harvey for these amazing books they inspire me every time I read them! Great Job!!!!

I read Rosie’s review a while go, and before, i didn’t quite think of Alice – Miranda books as ‘re-readable’ but that got me thinking. a little while or so ago, i decided to borrow Alice-Miranda ant the palace, and Alice-Miranda at camp. i read all my other library books, not really wanting to read them again, but eventually i had no choice, as i had nothing else. and it was INCREDIBLE. I could not believe how new and fun it was to be reading the story’s again. now i am on a journey to re-read them all!

That’s great news you’ve decided to rediscover the stories. Sometimes I go back to a book even years after I’ve first read it and love remembering what I enjoyed about it and sometimes even discovering new things too.